​SME Connect & Grow

​Bring a business challenge. Leave with opportunities.

​About the event

​What’s the biggest challenge facing your business right now? Bring it with you.

​SME Connect & Grow brings together SME owners, directors, HR professionals, managers and decision-makers who want to explore practical ways to strengthen their business, develop their people and identify opportunities they can actually take forward.

​This is not an evening built around theory. It is a chance to bring the real challenges you are facing, speak with specialists and other business leaders, explore practical solutions and make useful connections.

​Whether you are thinking about how AI could improve the way your team works, how better use of data could strengthen your marketing, where your business may have digital or skills gaps, or what funded training opportunities are available, the aim is to help you understand what could work for your business and what you could do next.

​Who should attend?

​SME owners • Founders • Directors • Business leaders • Managers • Employers responsible for people, skills, technology or growth

​You do not need to be an AI, data or technology expert. You just need to bring a business challenge and be open to exploring what could be possible.

​WHAT YOU’LL EXPLORE

​WHERE COULD AI MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR BUSINESS?

​Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way businesses work, but successful adoption requires more than simply understanding the technology.

​At WTD, the focus is on practical, hands-on implementation using your own systems, software and business processes. The aim is to help employers identify genuine workplace challenges, explore where AI and automation could improve efficiency, and apply solutions that can make an immediate difference.

​Businesses can also benefit from practical tools and resources such as prompt engineering guides, AI governance and policy templates, risk assessments, business process mapping tools, automation opportunity checklists, ROI calculators and implementation roadmaps.

​We work alongside employers to help embed AI safely, ethically and effectively, supporting measurable efficiency improvements, stronger workforce capability and a sustainable approach to AI that can continue beyond the programme.

​TURN DATA INTO SMARTER MARKETING DECISIONS

​Explore how stronger Data Technician and Multi-Channel Marketing capabilities can help your team use real business data to identify trends, understand customer behaviour and measure performance, then apply those insights across digital marketing channels to improve targeting, campaigns and results.

​IDENTIFY GAPS THAT COULD HOLD YOUR BUSINESS BACK

​Explore practical considerations around digital skills, IT and cybersecurity, and identify areas where your team or business may need additional capability. The focus is on understanding where gaps exist today and what skills could help your organisation become more capable, resilient and prepared for what comes next.

​SERVICE DESIGN & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

​Explore how looking at your services from the customer’s perspective can help you improve processes, remove friction and create better customer experiences.

​EXPLORE FUNDED SKILLS & APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES

​Find out what funded training and apprenticeship options may be available and discuss which opportunities could be relevant to your organisation, employees and future skills needs.

​MAKE RELEVANT BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

​This is more than open networking. Come prepared to tell us what your business does, what challenge you are trying to solve and the types of connections that could help. We will aim to make relevant introductions across the room, whether that is another SME facing a similar challenge, a potential client or partner, or someone with expertise that could help you move an idea forward.

​WHAT YOU’LL LEAVE WITH

​Our aim is for you to leave the evening with more than business cards.

• ​Practical ideas relevant to real challenges within your business

• ​A clearer understanding of where AI and automation could potentially be applied

• ​Ideas for using data and multi-channel marketing more effectively

• ​Greater awareness of skills or digital capability gaps within your organisation

• ​An understanding of funded training and apprenticeship opportunities that may be available

• ​Relevant new business connections

• ​Clearer next steps and opportunities to explore after the event

​BRING A BUSINESS CHALLENGE.  LEAVE WITH OPPORTUNITIES.

​One evening. Practical ideas. Real connections. Stronger business.

​Places are limited. Register your place to join us on 23 September.